Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The incidence of obesity in the Kingdom is on a steady rise, as the last report released by the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrinology Society stated that among the middle-aged population, 34 percent of all men and 45 percent of women in Saudi Arabia are classified as obese. Obesity is a disease with far more serious effects that go beyond an undesirable physical appearance. Health practitioners warn that obesity is directly related to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers. With the spread of obesity in the Kingdom, scores of literature on nutrition in bookstores and throughout the media, public nutritional awareness campaigns, and also fitness centers for men and women have proliferated in the Kingdom's major cities. Many Saudi Women, who often feel they are under great pressure to lose weight, have gone the extra step and devoured countless books on nutrition and memorized the caloric content and carbohydrate, protein, and fat composition of most foods. Yet, despite heightened nutritional awareness and better education, obesity still plagues Saudi society. In order to tip the scale and initiate a decline rather than an increase in obesity, the mastering of the science that many people have seemed to accomplish needs to be combined with a deeper and honest look into the inner self and the negative cultural practices so strongly entrenched in society. “I read countless books and could reiterate the grams of fat found in each and every food item on the shelf but I continued to battle with weight gain until I started looking for underlying reasons for my weight gain, reasons that do not immediately meet the eye. When I took the pledge to eat only when I needed to eat and not just because I wanted to and to exercise daily, the kilograms began to drop," said Zaina Al-Hakim, a physical therapist in Riyadh. One elderly woman and Jeddah resident, Hala Noor, has 17 grandchildren and has been diagnosed with hypertension, high blood cholesterol, obesity, and borderline adult onset diabetes. She understands that her condition is directly linked to her diet and lifestyle but she is still reluctant to change her ways. “My doctor has repeatedly advised me that white meat is healthier than red meat but I simply cannot replace lamb with chicken or fish at family gatherings because in our traditions, out of generosity, we must serve our guests and relatives only the finest and richest of lamb dishes. For me, it would be insulting and a social taboo to prepare vegetarian meals or use less oil or butter in my cooking," she explained. In a forum on nutrition recently held at Al-Hamra Sofitel hotel in Jeddah and sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Dr. Khalid Al-Madani, consultant in clinical nutrition and former vice-president of the Saudi Society for Food and Nutrition, claimed that environmental, cultural, and psychological factors play a much more prominent role in obesity than any genetic or pathological factors. Many of the cultural practices in the Kingdom and in the Arab world actually promote obesity, he said. “One myth that is rampant in our society and is negatively impacting the health of women is that a pregnant woman should be eating for two. This is incorrect as excessive weight gain during pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes and complications during birth, and makes it more difficult for the mother to return to her pre-pregnancy weight," said Al-Madani. “In our society, out of respect for the elderly and the intention to take care of them, we do not allow them to move around, be active and perform even basic tasks on their own. For example, if an elderly family member wants a cup of tea, everyone rushes to make it for him/her. That is actually unhealthy, and although we love and respect our elders, we should encourage them to remain active," said Al-Madani. “In Saudi Arabia, studies demonstrate that as you climb up the socio-economic ladder, the incidence of obesity increases. In our culture, almost every single social function; at cultural occasions, religious occasions, ceremonies, and weddings – they all revolve around food. Women are especially prone to emotional eating; if they feel depressed they eat and also if they are happy they eat to celebrate," he continued. “Without even realizing it, we are conditioning our children to become emotional eaters. If a student does well, we reward him with candy, or if a little girl falls down and cries we soothe her by offering her something sweet to eat. When they grow into adults, they have already been programmed to resort to food for comfort." Al-Madani said alternative venues to relieving stress, socializing and getting together with friends, and dealing with emotions need to be found in order to stop the rise of obesity in its tracks. For example, a group of friends who are accustomed to meeting at a coffee shop once a week could meet at a neighborhood park or the Corniche instead to chat while walking. Or a mother can write a touching letter or play a fun game with her children instead of baking them a cake to show them that she loves them. Staving off obesity involves changing the way people think and live and not only changing the way they eat. Family weekend activities should not be restricted to dining at restaurants and eating, but could include a variety of activities: bowling, ice-skating for the children, going to the park or beach, racing, visiting a library or museum, attending a lecture or seminar, or working together on a household project, such as redecorating the living room.
